Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pursuant to standing order 74(5), I ask the Minister representing the Minister for Defence for an explanation of why answers have not been provided to questions on notice Nos 2333 and 2336 asked on 9 August 2023 relating to foreign military sales and AUKUS.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Lambie for raising these questions. I'm advised by the office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence that they are continuing to endeavour to get from the Department of Defence the information requested in these questions on notice.

Senator Lambie would be aware that a level of information requested in QON 2333 is published in Defence's annual report and has also been released under FOI. Obviously the senator has the option of considering those sources in the first instance by way of an answer. However, I'm aware that the Deputy Prime Minister has asked whether there is further information which can be provided to the senator beyond that information, in order to be helpful. As Senator Lambie would appreciate, there is a lot of data within the scope of this that goes to sensitive defence capability transactions with the US. This, I'm advised, is the reason for delay.

In relation to question on notice 2336, I'm advised that this, similarly, relates to payments to the United States and United Kingdom, so there has been a similar delay in responding to this. Again, some aspects of this information have been released under FOI that relate to the cost of travel. I'm advised that responses will be tabled as soon as possible.